How to Check for Internet Censorship on Websites with Sensitive Content

September 13, 2026 at 06:28 AM· 12 min readAI-assisted

Teknologi

Positive internet is something that website owners need to check, especially if the site contains sensitive content.

Checking helps determine whether the domain is still accessible or has already entered the website blocking mechanism.

The term check Nawala is also still often used by the public when they want to check the status of a domain in Indonesia.

However, the current official government system is more appropriately associated with TrustPositif owned by the Ministry of Communication and Digital.

So, don't panic immediately if the website doesn't open.

The problem could originate from hosting, DNS, SSL, ISP network, or indeed the status of access termination.

Let's dissect it one by one.

What Is Positive Internet?

The term positive internet generally refers to the access filtering mechanism for certain sites or services in Indonesia.

The goal is related to restricting access to electronic information that is prohibited according to regulations.

In practice, users may be directed to a notification page when trying to open a domain whose access has been terminated.

Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 5 of 2020 stipulates that ISPs are required to terminate access at the Minister's command.

ISPs are also required to display a landing page when access termination is applied.

That's why the term positive internet is so popular.

Users are more familiar with the warning page than the legal term "access termination".

Positive Internet Does Not Mean All Sensitive Content Is Prohibited

This is an important part.

Sensitive content does not automatically mean illegal content.

For example, a health education website can discuss sexual diseases, narcotics, or violence in an educational context.

Context is very determining.

Likewise, news sites can write about gambling without providing gambling facilities.

Therefore, website owners must differentiate sensitive content from electronic information that is indeed prohibited by law.

Minister of Communication and Information Regulation 5/2020 regulates the mechanism for terminating access to prohibited information and content that facilitates it.

What Is TrustPositif?

TrustPositif is a system related to handling domains and content whose access is restricted in Indonesia.

This system has been developing for years.

In previous times, the term TRUST+Positif was listed in Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 19 of 2014.

The old regulation governed the database of negative content sites and the normalization mechanism.

However, there are regulatory updates that need to be known.

Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 5 of 2020 revoked Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 19 of 2014.

So, old articles that only quote the 2014 regulation should not be used as the sole reference.

In 2026, the address used for TrustPositif checks has moved following the change from Kominfo to Kemkomdigi.

ISP network references also direct users to trustpositif.komdigi.go.id for blocking information.

What Is Check Nawala?

The term check Nawala comes from the use of the Nawala DNS filtering service known since the previous healthy internet era.

The Ministry of Communication and Information itself once mentioned Nawala DNS as one of the services used to filter negative content.

At the same time, the government also developed the TrustPositif system.

Because it is already popular, the term check Nawala is still used until now.

However, when wanting to check the government's blocking status, TrustPositif is a more appropriate term.

Think of it like people still saying "photocopy" for many copying machines.

The language persists, even though the system behind it has evolved.

Why Is It Necessary to Check Positive Internet?

There are several reasons why website owners need to conduct checks.

First, the website may not be accessible from certain networks.

Second, organic traffic can suddenly drop.

Third, customers start saying the domain cannot be opened.

Fourth, a used domain may already have a history unknown to the new owner.

Well, this last one often comes as a surprise.

Buying a cheap used domain is indeed fun.

If the bonus turns out to be a problematic history, the smile can expire too.

Conducting a positive internet check before using a domain can help reduce that risk.

How to Check Positive Internet Through TrustPositif

The most relevant way is to check the domain through the TrustPositif service.

Use the main domain without unnecessary additional parameters.

For example:

exampledomain.com

Not:

https://exampledomain.com/article?id=123&utm_source=something

The goal is to make domain checking simpler.

1. Open the TrustPositif Service

Access the TrustPositif Kemkomdigi service.

The address currently used is trustpositif.komdigi.go.id.

Some ISPs also refer to that address on their blocking pages.

If the service is difficult to open temporarily, try again after some time.

Don't immediately assume your website is blocked just because the checking page is having issues.

Government servers are also servers.

Sometimes they need coffee metaphorically.

2. Enter the Domain Name

Enter the domain you want to check.

Make sure the writing is correct.

Pay attention to small mistakes like:

domain.com

compared to:

domian.com

One letter can result in checking a completely different domain.

3. Check the Displayed Status

The system then displays information based on the available database.

If the domain is not listed in the access termination list, it indicates that the access issue is likely due to other factors.

However, don't stop there.

Conduct additional technical checks.

The database status and actual access conditions on the ISP are two things that need to be observed separately.

How to Check Nawala for Domains

For practical needs, check Nawala is now often used as a synonym for checking domain blocking status.

You can start from TrustPositif.

Some third-party services also provide check Nawala automatically.

However, do not use third-party services as final proof.

Use the results as an initial check.

Then verify through official channels if the domain status is important for business operations.

This is very important for company websites, online stores, news portals, or services with large traffic.

Don't Just Test the Website from One Internet

There is a simple mistake that often occurs.

Site owners try the website through one Wi-Fi.

The website fails to open.

The conclusion is immediate:

"Fix, hit by positive internet!"

Not necessarily.

Try to diagnose.

You can check if the server is active, DNS is correct, SSL is valid, and the domain is not expired.

Hosting configuration errors often look like blocking issues to lay users.

Differentiate Hosting Errors and Website Blocking

A dead server usually results in connection errors, timeouts, or certain HTTP codes.

Problematic SSL can trigger browser security warnings.

Incorrect DNS can make the domain not found.

While website blocking by ISPs generally directs the connection to a notification page or access termination mechanism.

Minister of Communication and Information Regulation 5/2020 even requires ISPs to display a landing page for certain access terminations.

This difference helps determine the next steps.

Causes of Website Access Termination

Not all blocking comes from the same process.

Access termination requests can come from the public, ministries or agencies, law enforcement, or courts.

The requests can be submitted via website, letter, or email.

For public reports, evidence is also required.

The information includes the reporter's identity, screenshots, specific URLs, and reasons for the report.

So, the mechanism is not just a robot seeing one word and then pressing a giant red button.

There is a handling process based on category and authority.

Pornography and Gambling

Minister of Communication and Information Regulation 5/2020 specifically mentions pornography and gambling in access termination submissions to the Minister.

Therefore, websites in those categories have a clear risk of access termination.

Content That Violates the Law

Other categories can come from information prohibited by law.

The assessment follows the authority of the agency and related regulations.

This is why the term "sensitive content" should not be equated with "prohibited content".

Why Can a Clean Domain Appear Blocked?

There are several possibilities.

First, the domain may have been previously owned by another party.

The old content might be completely different from the current website.

Second, certain subdomains may have had issues.

Third, the owner has removed the content that caused the access termination but has not applied for normalization.

Fourth, there may be errors in assessment or reporting.

Therefore, recovery or normalization processes are available.

What to Do If the Website Is Blocked?

Do not try to circumvent the blocking.

For website owners, the right solution is to find the cause and apply for recovery officially.

Start with an audit of the entire website content.

Check articles, pages, images, videos, download files, redirects, subdomains, and user-generated content.

Don't forget third-party ads.

Sometimes owners feel their website is clean, but the ad network displays different material.

Remove Problematic Content

If there is indeed content that violates the rules, remove it first.

Ensure that the URL no longer displays prohibited material.

Also, check the cache and duplicate pages.

Don't delete one page while five copies are still leisurely roaming in subfolders.

Apply for Normalization

Normalization is the process of restoring access after the issue causing the access termination is resolved.

The government's standard service document states that recovery requests can include evidence that the URL is clean.

The document also lists [email protected] as a channel for TrustPositif admins.

Since procedures can be updated, check the latest guidelines before submitting a request.

What Is AduanKonten?

AduanKonten is the official channel of Kemkomdigi for reporting negative content.

On its official page, the public can enter website URLs, social media accounts, or IP addresses.

The report status can also be tracked using a complaint code.

For financial fraud, the site directs users to the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre owned by OJK.

For illegal loans or investments, users are directed to the SIPASTI OJK channel.

This shows that content handling can also involve different agencies according to the type of violation.

How to Check a Website Before Launching

Prevention is always more comfortable than dealing with recovery after the website is active.

First, conduct a positive internet check on the domain before building a large website.

Especially for used domains.

Then check the domain history through web archives or reputable domain reputation sources.

The goal is not to peek at the secrets of the former owner.

The goal is to know what has been running at that address.

Audit All Redirects

Ensure the domain does not redirect to another website without your knowledge.

Check the configuration:

.htaccess,
Nginx configuration,
CDN,
DNS,
redirect plugins,
JavaScript,
meta refresh.

A hacked website can result in redirects to harmful pages.

Owners sometimes do not realize it because the redirect only appears on certain devices or traffic.

Check for Malware

A compromised website also needs attention.

Malicious scripts can insert content, spam pages, or automatic redirects.

Use a trusted security scanner.

Update CMS, plugins, themes, and administrator passwords.

If WordPress still uses a plugin from 2018 last updated when the Avengers fought Thanos, it's time for an evaluation.

Does Changing DNS Remove Positive Internet Status?

No.

Changing the website DNS does not automatically remove the access termination status in the government's database.

DNS and blocking status are different issues.

If the domain is indeed part of the website blocking mechanism, the owner should conduct normalization through the applicable procedures.

This is far more appropriate than trying to find ways to circumvent the restrictions.

Can Changing Hosting Solve Website Blocking?

Not necessarily.

If the problem is with the domain, moving the server does not automatically resolve the status.

But moving hosting can help if the real source of the problem is a dead server or problematic IP.

That's why diagnosis is important.

Don't change hosting three times if it turns out the SSL hasn't been renewed.

Is Changing the Domain a Solution?

Technically, businesses can use a new domain.

However, it is not an ideal solution if the cause of the problem has not been resolved.

The same content can cause the same issues.

Moreover, domain migration impacts SEO, backlinks, brand, email, and old users.

It's better to understand the cause of the website blocking first.

Is Checking Positive Internet for SEO Important?

Very relevant.

A website that cannot be accessed by most Indonesian audiences certainly has distribution problems.

Users cannot read the pages.

Conversions can drop.

The brand can also lose trust.

From an SEO perspective, webmasters also need to ensure the problem is not coming from robots.txt, noindex, server errors, or canonical issues.

So, don't blame positive internet for all ranking drops.

Google also has quite a few ways of making webmasters sleepless.

Checklist for Checking Nawala and Website Status

When a website has issues, use a logical inspection sequence.

First, conduct a check Nawala or TrustPositif.

Then check the server.

After that, check DNS and SSL.

Next, test the main URL and other pages.

Check redirects and malware.

Then see if the issue occurs on one ISP or more.

If the domain is indeed recorded as problematic, audit the content and use the official normalization channel.

This method is more effective than immediately changing the domain without knowing the source of the problem.

Conclusion

Conducting a positive internet check is important for website owners, especially sites with topics that may be considered sensitive.

Checking helps differentiate access termination issues from hosting, DNS, SSL, or website configuration disruptions.

The term check Nawala is still widely used.

However, for the current government context, TrustPositif Kemkomdigi is a more relevant reference.

If a website experiences website blocking, do not immediately change DNS, hosting, or domain without diagnosis.

Check the domain status.

Audit the content.

Clean up problematic parts.

After that, use the official normalization procedure if needed.

This approach is much safer for the long-term website.

Because the ultimate goal is not just to make the page open today.

The goal is to keep the website legal, safe, trustworthy, and easily accessible to users.

Disclaimer

This article is created for educational and informational purposes regarding positive internet, check Nawala, TrustPositif, and the website blocking mechanism.

The information in the article is not legal advice and is not intended as a guide to avoiding or bypassing legitimate blocking.

Regulations, service channels, government domains, and access termination and recovery procedures may change at any time.

Website owners should check the latest information through Kemkomdigi, AduanKonten, and related authorized agencies.

If the website contains material that may violate the law, consult with legal experts or authorities before publishing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is positive internet?+

Positive internet refers to the access filtering mechanism for certain sites or services in Indonesia, aimed at restricting access to electronic information that is prohibited according to regulations. It involves directing users to a notification page when trying to access a blocked domain.

What does the term 'check Nawala' mean?+

The term 'check Nawala' refers to the use of the Nawala DNS filtering service, which was popular in the past for filtering negative content. Although the TrustPositif system is now more relevant, 'check Nawala' is still commonly used by the public to refer to checking a domain's status.

What is TrustPositif?+

TrustPositif is a system in Indonesia for handling domains and content whose access is restricted. It has evolved over the years, with the current system being governed by Minister of Communication and Information Regulation Number 5 of 2020. It provides information on blocked sites and is accessible via trustpositif.komdigi.go.id.

Does positive internet mean all sensitive content is prohibited?+

No, positive internet does not mean all sensitive content is prohibited. Sensitive content, such as educational material on health or news about gambling, may be allowed if it is not illegal and does not facilitate prohibited activities. Context is crucial in determining whether content is permissible.

Why might a website not open in Indonesia?+

A website might not open due to several reasons, including hosting issues, DNS problems, SSL certificate issues, ISP network problems, or the website being blocked under the positive internet filtering mechanism. It's important to check these factors before concluding that access has been terminated.

#blokir website #informasi elektronik #TrustPositif

Written by

Rama Runov See all articles by Rama Runov→